P2P Community Partner:

ACCESS Garden-To-You Program

The Garden-To-You Social Enterprise & Employment program is provided by Access County Community Support Services (ACCESS) in Essex County. It provides paid employment and training opportunities for ODSP and OW recipients and individuals living in low income. The program increases participant incomes and helps them gain valuable job experience.

Employees grow, harvest, and prepare produce for weekly CSA deliveries at the ACCESS Community Garden. The produce is sold as part of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model, to individuals, families and agencies supporting individuals living in low income. Value added products (e.g., jars of pickles, jams, garden beds, etc.) are also made and sold across the Windsor-Essex community, with the proceeds reinvested into the program.

ACCESS collaborates with community partners, such as service agencies and schools, to build and support community gardens. Benefits of community gardens include:

• increased access to nutritious food,
• reduced risk of obesity and obesity-related illnesses,
• improved dietary habits through education,
• increased physical activity, and
• improved food security.